State of Michele's Union aka what's going on.

Here’s the million dollar question… When is (insert title) going to be done?


I wish I had the answer you want to hear, but I don’t. I’m not even close to having an answer for you. For any of my anticipated books. None. Let me explain several reasons why I am where I am.

Let’s go all the way back to May 2013 when my debut novel, Never Let You Fall, was published. *applause* I was so excited with my accomplishment - I finished a book! - but I had no idea what I was doing.  So, instead of jumping into book two, I followed up on an idea of mine that turned into Last Call. I loved this story and these characters and as soon as I typed ‘The End’ I knew I wanted to tell more. Last Call stands alone but my Aussie bartender wasn’t done talking and therefore I told readers (at the end of the book) I would write His Call in 2014, AFTER I wrote the next Tyalbrook. Next, we fast forward to Never Let You Go which released in January 2014.  

{Let me recap for you - that is THREE 80k plus books in less than a year. Once upon a time that was considered super fast in the publishing industry.}

Back to our story… I finished my third book and BAM. My brain froze. I wrote some for His Call. I wrote some for Tyalbrook. I did several book events that spring and I played around, waiting for the mojo to kick in so I could finish one of those two projects. 

*cue evil laughter* Life never happens how we plan and by March I had a SHINY NEW IDEA and From The Wreckage was born. This series consumed me and in a matter of a few months I wrote and released From The Wreckage, Out of Ruins and All That Remains.

And my life changed. Those books took off in a way I never expected. Readers loved them and I was so grateful. And this is when my dilemma began to grow. You see, my other books did well. I was more than happy with where I was before From The Wreckage. But, I sink thousands of dollars into covers, editing, PR and marketing and I have to think of my writing as a business.

With that in mind, I did what seemed best and I wrote Into The Fire because the story was screaming to be told. It's the book I am proudest of - sales or not. 
While working on Into The Fire I did something else HUGE. I signed with my agent. *applause* After I released Into The Fire back in March, I debated my next step. Tyalbrook #3? His Call? Another Wrecked booked? I wasn't sure so I decided to call my agent, Italia, and we talked for two hours about my career and where I saw myself going. Can you say television, movies, bookstores??

The end result? A secret project was born that is so amazing and has so much potential my heart raced for days after our call. It’s still racing. Since the beginning of April I’ve researched this new project all while attempting to work on the stories I know readers are waiting on. I wrote myself into a hard place, I know this. I told you you would get Tyalbrook #3, His Call and more stories with Jules and West in them. And you will. It’s the when that's in limbo and I’m sorry for that, I truly am. My brain is working on four projects on any given day. My focus has been so split over the last two months that I have, at times, thought I was going to have a breakdown. The pressure is real. I want to make everyone happy and yet, I can’t.

I ask that you know I have not abandoned these stories. I will not rush them if I don’t feel them though. Writing isn’t simply sitting at a computer and typing words. My stories are more than that. My characters talk to me and tell me what they want and I have to wait for them. Sometimes they are stubborn - Xander! - and they don’t talk when I need them too.

To ease my stress I plan on being less forthcoming with projected release dates. I don’t want to set expectations I can’t make, and I don’t want to disappoint readers. I will continue to offer you teases as I write and I’m always happy to answer your questions about my writing.

So there you go… My state of the union. As always, thank you for supporting me. It means a great deal to be doing what I love. I never dreamed others would read something I wrote and love it too. My readers rock my world.

One tiny bit of amazing news for Prophecy of Tyalbrook fans - I’ll be sharing the brand new covers on June 8th. They are amazing and I can’t wait for you to see them. 

Note below one of the inspirations for my secret project... yes, this is bribery to make up for the news above!

#CoverReveal The Finger Trap by Johnny Worthen

Did y'all know I'm a BIG mystery lover? I am! So it excites me to bring you this cover reveal today...

With wit and humor, this modern mystery is a refreshing spin on the noir detective genre 

Tony Flaner is a malingering, part-time comedian who is full of sarcasm and never finished a thing in his life. He’s had 12 years to prepare for his divorce and didn’t. He had his entire life to choose a career and hasn’t. Now time’s up, and he’s in a world of trouble. But all of that changes when Tony takes a first date to a drunken party and ends with him facing prison for the murder of a girl he hardly knew. To save himself, wise-cracking Tony must discover who the mysterious girl was, what she was involved in, and what the hell she saw in him in the first place.

Isn't that just gorgeous? I love the humor mixed with mystery. The Finger Trap (paperback) is available for pre-order now HERE

You can find Johnny on Facebook HERE 

Awards are nice, but this is so much more than that... #UtopYA

I'm incredibly honored to be included among an amazing group of authors, designers, editors, bloggers, etc... who were nominated for the 2015 UtopYA Awards. What the celebrities say is true, it is an honor just to be nominated. These nominees are chosen by my peers - other panelists and authors who have attended UtopYA Con through the years - and it means a great deal to me.

The UtopYA community helped shape me. It was my first event as an author, it's where I met some of my very best friends and where I learned that all of the crazy authorly things I do are normal. It's also where my husband came to find a better understanding of my life and this book world and where my knowledge was expanded, and my creativity and passion was nurtured and celebrated.

So, thank you Janet Wallace and UtopYA friends! Whether I end up with a shiny trophy or not, I've already won.

If you feel inclined to vote, for me or any of the other deserving nominees, here is the link http://bit.ly/voteutopyaawards2015 

I wish everyone luck, but more than that I hope and pray that every attendee - nominee or not - grasps the larger meaning of this event. It's not about awards, making book sales or being the big shot in the room. It's about community, equal footing and #Liftasyouclimb
 

Celebrating #NewReleases with friends

Every once in a while I can take the time to share a few new releases from my amazingly talented friends with you. Today is that day... feast your eyes on the pretties!

Lex Talionis - New Adult Suspense

What would you do to find justice for your most precious person? How far would you go to see those responsible pay for unthinkable acts? Are you willing to risk it all?
Alexandria Ross is.
Lex Talionis: Let the punishment fit the crime.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U6GT05Y
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00U6GT05Y
Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00U6GT05Y

***GIVEAWAY***

Write a Review - Win a Kindle Fire!

In celebration of the Lex Talionis ebook release, one lucky reviewer will win a 7-inch, Wi-Fi, 16 GB Kindle Fire HD!

To enter, write a review of Lex Talionis and enter the URL of the review on this form ( http://goo.gl/YFzV3I ), along with your name and email address. You can enter multiple times for the SAME REVIEW if it's posted on different sites! This includes: Amazon, Goodreads, a personal blog, Facebook, or anywhere book reviews can be found. One winner will be selected using random.org and notified on May 27th, 2015. Note: HONEST reviews are truly appreciated. Higher star ratings will not increase your chances of winning!

***Due to the nature of the prize, this contest is open only to domestic United States locations.***

This contest will run from Monday, April 27th, 2015, through Tuesday, May 26th, 2015. That's ONE FULL MONTH to read and review! Good luck and happy reading!

Find the book here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U6GT05Y

Entry form: http://goo.gl/YFzV3I

 

Wash Me Away - Coming of Age, Contemp

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Monsters have a way of following you.
Immersed in a new world at boarding school, Addy Buckley learns she’s not the only one with secrets. While trying to navigate the minefield of painful lies that seem to be rattling around her family’s past, she meets soft on the eyes and heavy on the heart, Napoleon Blake.
When faced with the darkness, Addy must decide to cling to her new life and friends or let the monster carry her away. The choice is hers, sink or swim.

She also has a GIVEAWAY going on over HERE

Snow White Lies - New Adult, Twisted fairytale




Title: Snow White Lies
Series: Twisted Fairytale Confessions
Author: Sarah J. Pepper
Cover Art: Sarah Storm, Wilcox Photography,                 Platinum Imagery and Design


Amazon: http://amzn.to/1B4MhLF
B&N: http://bit.ly/1DOcdbS
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1FZNyDp
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1wWXUz4




Evil poisons everyone. Period. Our mouths water when we sink our teeth into what we have always craved. Surrendering to our desires by biting off delectable piece of the forbidden fruit is nothing more than a meager confession: Poison tastes sinfully sweet,”—Confessions of the Big Apple Debutante, by blogger Miss Snow White.

You're talking to yourself, again!

The other afternoon as my husband was running out to do some errands, he stopped by where I was working in the house to explain where he was going. After he'd kissed me goodbye and left the room I called out to him. Popping his head around the corner he sighed as I asked, "wait, now what are you doing?" I got 'the look' as he repeated his intentions again and he got the 'you know I don't listen when I'm working' speech, to which he laughed because he knew I was right. He knows me well enough to know how my mind works. Here're a few other things he's figured out through the years.

I'm best friends with the people in my mind...
Please know it's nothing personal. If we're hanging out you will also be hanging out with any number of sexy guys, scarred teens, and kick-butt heroines or heroes, that are maintaining temporary residency in the gray matter between my ears. 
They can be pushy sometimes so don't be offended if you see me gaze into blank space and nod. I'm working things out with my people. It's normal. For me.

I'll be watching you...
I've always been a watcher of people. They amuse, horrify, terrify and alternately confuse the heck out of me. You learn so much about human nature by watching the way people interact.
   For instance, the other day I'm at Panera eating and it's busy so there aren't a whole lot of tables. Across the restaurant from me, a woman took a seat at an empty booth by herself. After a few moments she left to fill her drink (her food had not yet arrived) taking her wallet and table buzzer with her and leaving the table empty - except for the umbrella she left under the table. While she was gone another woman came over, set her purse on the table and stood there - obviously holding the table as the rest of her party ordered. What I found interesting is the lady standing there was looking towards the registers and never saw the original woman's umbrella. Nor did she see the original woman when she walked up behind her, drink in hand. The first occupant sat down on the edge of the booth, set her things on the table and began playing on her phone, without a word to the woman standing there. Nothing! She didn't say "excuse me, this is my table" or "I'm sorry I was here first." It was only a few moments before an employee came with food and the lady standing turned, shocked to see the woman sitting there. It was the employee who ended up saying "she was sitting here" to the newcomer. The lady sitting never said a word, just kind of smiled and shrugged.  
   This whole interaction was perplexing to me. The fact is, I disliked the first woman the moment she sat down without saying anything to the woman standing. She allowed the woman standing there to be embarrassed - bc she was, it was clear to see - instead of simply being polite.
People watching gives me clues about someone based on their actions. One small action created a villain in my mind that day. 
By the way - I'm also an eavesdropper, although it's a bit unintentional. If you talk loud enough that I can hear your conversation - and there's always one woman at the restaurant table next to us who loves to hear herself talk. LOUD - I will zone in on your conversation. 

I'm selfish...
With my time. I've always been an outgoing person and I enjoy hanging with friends, but it happens less now than ever. I'm very selfish with how much of my free time I give away anymore. I have a husband, three kids and I have a career. Being a writer is not a hobby. It is my job and I take it seriously. I spend Monday through Friday working at writing just as I would if I were back in corporate America. No tennis games in the afternoon, no brunches with 'the girls' - I'm working and I love my job.
This also means I watch less television. Sure, I binge watch occasionally or I have my must-sees, but I no longer spend nights in front of the TV watching 'just any show'. Though I think my hubby likes this because while I go back to work after the kids are in bed, he watches his shows (all survival and car shows) without me griping about it. 

Music will ignite my mind...
There's nothing like a good song to fire up my writing brain. I have a list of songs that have inspired ideas for stories I want to write. I'm an eclectic listener too. I'm also notorious for listening to the same song over and over and over. #sorrynotsorry